Vehicle sheathing arrangement



July 19, 1949. F. l.. MURPHY E'rAL v 2,476,451

VEHICLE vSHEATHING ARRANGEMENT 9 sheets-sneer 1v Filed July 10, 1944July 19, 1949. F. MURPHY ETAL VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT 9Sheets-Sheet 2 F. L.,MURPHY 'ETAL VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT July 19,1949.

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July lO, 1944 July 19, 1949. F. L. MURPHY ErALVEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1o, 1944 vJuly19, 1949. F. L. MURPHY ErAL VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT 9 Sheets-Sheet6 Filed July 10, 1944 July 19, 1949. F. L. MURPHY ETAL y 2,476,451

VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT Filed July 10, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 July19, 1949. F. l.. MURPHY ETAL 2,476,451

VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT Filed July l0, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 F. L.MURPHY ET AL VEHICLE SHEATHING ARRANGEMENT July 19, 1949.

Filed July lO, 1944 v 9 sheets-sheet 9 Meza/0246:

Patented July' 19, 1949 ;12,476,4511fj 'y f juNirEn I STATES PATENT*torsion znvcnsi VEHICLE sHEA'rmNG ARRANGEMENT Manufacturing Compporation of Delaware any, `Chicago, lll., a cor- Application July 1o,19144, semina. 544,219

9 claims. 1

The invention relates to a sheathing arrangev lmerit for vehiclesdesigned to protect the walls thereof from corrosion and deteriorationresultingfrom exposure to the elements to prolong the useful lii'e andenhance the appearance of the vehicle.

A principal object is yto provide a sheathing panel `assembly comprisinga plurality ofpanels formed for interlocking joint relationship withmeans at the joints fordetachably securing the several panels to thevehicle wall, and stress (ci. rrss-s6) v means intermediate xthe jointsto provide tension in the respective panels to insure pressure at thejoints to render them weather-tight and free from vibration. 'y

One object is to provide a sheathing formed to facilitate attachmentthereof to a vehicle wall from the outside of the vehicle in suchfashion as to conceal the fastening means and to rigidify v such wall.An important object is to provide sheathin members formed to permitfabrication by the extrusion process wherein such members would beproduced by forcing plastic metal under high pressure thruva die havingan aperture of the contour desired whereby the panels thus formed wouldpossess accurately gaged definition of conv tour, free fromirregularities, practicable for interlocking with associated membershaving like characteristics, and the further advantage that the elementsentering into the panel construction are integrated with resultantsaving in weight of material and cost of fabrication.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figs. 1 and 2 are complementa] sideelevational views of a railway vehicle embodying the side wall sheathingarrangement of the invention, showing a preferred application of thesheathing the full length of the vehicle above and below the windows anddepicting application of similar sheathing to the depending side apronsof the vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing in enlargedfragmentary view the vestibule end on the near side of the vehicle andthe opposite end withportions of the sheathing broken away to expose theunderlying plate girder side wall of the vehicle with portions of thegirder plate itself broken away to show framing longitudinals above andbelow the windows; Figs. 4 and 5 are complemental verticalcrosssectional views taken respectively, on lines 4--4 and 5-5, of Fig.l, through the vehicle side showing in Fig. 4 the application of thesheathing to the girder plate portion above the windows and, in Fig. 5,the sheathing attached to the girder plate beneath the windows, and tothe apron framing depending from the vehicle side;

Figs. 6 and 'I are similarcomplemental views taken respectively on lines8-6 and 1|, of Fig. 3, showing enlarged' that portion of the sheathingand plate girder side above the windows illustrated Iin Fig. 4, anddepictingthe manner oi at'- taching the sheathing members to the girderplate and each other. 'at the side plate longitudinals and the windowheaders:

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 6 and '7, but showing theportion of the plate girder side beneath .the windows andthe mode ofattaching the sheathing to the.'girder plate at the belt rail and sidesill positions and to associated sheathing members, the views beingtaken respectively on lines 8--8 and 9-9, of Fig. 1; l

Figs. 10 and 11 are complemental vertical sec tional views taken,respectively, on lines lll-l0 andl II-I I, of Fig. 1, showing theapplication of picting in Fig. 10 a mode of suspending the apron fromthe vehicle side in a manner to avoid interference with adjacentsheathing portions at the side sill, and illustrating in Fig. 11, theform of attachment for the sheathing member at the free edge of theapron structure; l

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line I2|2, of Fig.1, through the girder side plate atV the pier post position between thewindows and extending from the belt rail to window headers, showing inone embodiment of the invention, a finish panel of metal similar to thatof the shaped members of the sheathing for covering the girder plateportion between the windows, depicting also the method of securing thesheathing members at the belt ra-il and header positions to the girderplate;

Figs. 13 and 14 show the method of securing the sheathing members at thevestibule door end and the corne-r post position at the opposite end ofthe vehicle, respectively, Fig. 13 being a horizontal sectional viewtaken on line I3l3, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 14 a similar view on linel4--|4, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line i5--l 5, of Figs. 1and 16, showing the method of splicing the sheathing members at pointsintermediate the vestibule and the opposite ends of the vehicle andsecuring them to the-girder plate;

. connection with the sheathing member at the side sill position asshown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 18 is a similar view of a strip for securing changeably with theretaining` strip for similar moulding used at the hinge position on theapron structure shown in Fig.

Figs. 19 and 20 show fragmentary perspective views of companionsheathing members for use in the interlocking relationship shown inFigs. 8 and 9, the upper member depicted in Figs. 8 and 19, beinglformed with a retaining moulding strip integral with the body of thesheathing member for engagement with the belt rail, with the associatedunderlying member shown in Figs. 9 and 20 formed at its lower margin forattachment to the girder plate at the side sill position and stripportions integral therewith for retaining snapon moulding foreoncealingthe sheathing fastening means, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, orfor use with the sheathing member at the window header position shown inFigs. 'I and 12;

Figs. 21 and 22 show complementa] sheathing members designed forapplication to the apron structure and arranged for interlockingrelationship with each other and the associated members, as indicated inFig. 11, and showing the manner of shaping the member of Fig. 22 toprovide resiliency at the fastening means to insure tension in themember tmprovide thrusting engagement with the companion piece;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary portion of the belt rail longitudinal formedwith a marginal upper portion thickened for assembly with. the girderplate portion in the window area and shaped to retain the mouldingintegral with adjacent sheathing member, as shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 24 shows a separate moulding member adapted for interlockingrelationship with an associated sheathing member and the retainingstrips of Fig. 18, shown assembled in Fig. 6 at the side plate position;and

Figs. 25 and 26 are views respectively similar to Figs. 6 and 9, butshowing the configuration of the body portion of the sheathing membersmodified to present a concave sheathing surface with that portion of themember curving inwardly for bearing contact with the girder.

In said drawings, the useof the sheathing of the invention is bestexemplified by its application to the side of a railway car I0 as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The sheathing as a whole is preferably disposed tocover the car side wall areas above and below the windows II and, ifdesired, at the pier post positions I2 between the windows, thesheathing members above and below the Windows being preferably shapedfor purposes hereinafter outlined, while those between the windows maybe in the form of flat panels I3 arranged to overlie the pier panelportion I2 of the girder wall plate I4 above the belt rail I5, as bestshown in Fig. 12. The sheathing members above and below the windows areseverally of less length than the car side to facilitate handling in theapplication of the sheathing to the wall and vare preferably spliced atcontiguous ends intermediate the car ends, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 16; the sheathing members are removably held to the girder plate I4by means of vscrews or bolts I6 extending between adjacent ends of thesheathing members and thru the splice plate I1 and the sealing strip I8for securing said ends without perforating the sheathing members, thespice plate and the strip conformingto the contour of the sheathing toinsure weather-tight engagement. The ends ofthe sheathing members at thevestibule door position and the corner post at opposite ends of the carare held as shown respectively In Figs. 13 and 14; at the vestibule door20,a doorjamb casing piece 2|. secured to body framing post 22, isformed with the flange portion 23 positioned in lthe plane of the girderplate I4 with-portion thereof extended beyond the post to deflnf` thedoor opening 24 and to provide an attaching plate for the sheathingretaining clamp 25; the clamp piece is angle-shaped and disposed withone flange portion 26 conforming to and engaging the l sheathing memberswith the interposed sealing strip 2l and the other flange 28 having edgeabutment with the casing piece 2| flush with the door opening 24, asshown. the clamp being secured by means of screws or bolts 29 extendingthru the iiange 26 and the flange 23 of the door jan'ib casing. Thesheathing ends at the corner post position at the opposite end of thecar are secured by a similar retaining clamp 30 but of Z shape with oneflange portion 3l conforming to and engaging the sheathing members withthe interposed sealing strip 32; as in the case of the clamp 25, theattaching screw or bolt 33 is dis-- posed adjacent the ends of thesheathing members to avoid penetrating them to insure weathertightengagement of the parts; the bolt extends through the flange 3|, theplate 34 positioned in the plane of the girder plate I4, and the cornerpost 35; the plate 34 is extended beyond the post to provide an abutmentfor the clamp flange 36 through web portion 31 transmittingpressure ofthe bolt to the plate 34.- In the particular embodiment shown the plate34 functions also as a retaining piece for the streamlining diaphragm 39to complement the retaining clamp 40 held to the post by the bolt 38.

In a railway car construction involving girder side and framingassemblies of aluminum or steel in the side wall structure, exposure ofsuch metal to the deleterious action of the elements has resulted indiscoloration and sometimes corrosion suflicient to detract fromestablished standards of maintenance and appearance of such vehicles.

Therefore, to protect the surface of the girder `in the form ofprefabricated mem-bers 4I through 46, in the present embodiment,disposed and applied as presently to be described, is provided.Preferably, the sheathing members are proportioned to permit grouping ofdesirable odd numbers so that required lettering above and below thewindows could be accommodated by a sheathing member centrally positionedin the group, in the present case, by members 43 as shown in Figs. 1through 5, of the drawings. In the instant disclosure, the sheathingmembers are of extruded metal and provide necessary interlocking andattaching means at opposite margins of the respective members and withintegral portions preferably in the form of tensioning ribs 41 extendinglongitudinally of certain of said members intermediate the margins andin parallel relationship. The members may be of any desired contourdependent upon the type of car or wall structure and finish decidedupon; the surface may be formed with plane faces in angular relation,or, as here shown, of arcuate configuration, either convex or concave,to further rigidify the construction. The sheathing herein contemplatedis characterized by a surface finish which is very hard and corrosionresistant, free from scratches and easy to clean, and resilient withinthe elastic limits of the material vto campensate for variations instresses imposed in the process of attaching the members to the car. Inorder lfully to prevent the entrance of moisture through the jointsbetween associated sheathing members, l

'certain of them are formed with elongated pockets 48, to receive thecooperating flanges 9| on the contiguous underlying members ininterlocking relationship. t

Provision is made for application of the members to the girder side I4by the attaching flanges 5I forming downwardextensions of the offset linner wall portions of the respectivepockets 48:

the flanges are drilled to provide the openings 52 suitably spaced alongthe flanges for receiving f girder plate I4 to function as a strut tomaintain tension in the body of the several sheathing members when thesheathing is4 secured in position on the girder. The strut is preferablyinclined to shed any waterwhich might enter the space between sheathingand girder wall and provided with a, bearing flange 54 for extendedpressure engagement with the girder wall; to obtain sufficient pressureat the joints to insure a rm interlock between the members, pressurebetween strut and the girderimay be regulated by the simple expedient ofinterposing a shim strip 55 between the strut and girder, such stripbeing preferably non-metallic to cushion the parts against chattering ofmetal to metal contact.

In the preferred form the sheathing members extend with their exposedouter faces downwardly from the upper ledge portion 6I to the lowermargin and terminate in thickened bead portions 9| to provide the outerwall portion of an elongated hollow pocket 48 further defined by acompanion inner wall portion 92 extending inwardlyV and downwardly fromthe inner face of the body section at a point immediately above the bead9i, to a plane adjacent the girder wall at which point the wall isfurther bent to provide a depending attaching flange 5I thickened tostillen the member and to permit drilling of the openv ings 52 forgtheattachment means. A portion of the attaching flange 5I between the bendand the openings 52 is offset outwardly as at 93 to provide an innerwall 94 inclined in substantially parallel spaced relationship with theinner bearing face portion 95, also inclined, of a section bead 9i onthe outer wall of thepocket 48 and together defining passageway 96-between them to receive the offset flange 98 at the upper margin of anassociated underlying member. The width of the passageway 96 withrespect to the thickness of fiange 98 is preferably so proportioned asto cause the spreading apart of the walls 9| and 94 under thrust of the`fiange 98 entered between them for interlocking with the underlyingmembers during the process of assembling them on the car wall. To renderinconspicuous the seam 91 between the members and to insure aweathertight joint, the downwardly facing shoulder 60 is `'slopedupwardly and inwardly with respect to the underlying ledge llil ofanassociated member having its inner wall 94 to provide a line contact atthe Junction of ad.

joining members. p

Certain of the sheathing members are formed to provide moulding trimpieces inthe general assembly, such as the member 4I at the side plateframing longitudinal 8, member 48 at the window header framinglongitudinal I. the memlber 48 at the belt rail framing longitudinal I8.

and the member 48 at the sidesill framing longitudinal 8 but which maybe adapted for use also at the 'f window headerA position, as `bestshown in Figs. 4 and 7. The member 4I at the side plate is formed forattachment to a retaining strip 58. shownl in detail in Fig. 18, with adepending securing lip 51 to engage the bulbous upper edge portion 58 ofthe retaining strip to which it is Vheld when attached to the girderplate I4 by means of the attaching flange 5I at its lower margin asshown in Fig. 6. In the embodiment indicated the roof sheet 5 of the caris interposed between the retaining strip 56 and the girder and the sideplate and secured by rivets 58, as shown. The outer wall of pocket 48 ofthis member 4I is formed with its lower portion shaped to provide ashoulder portion 60 adapted for engagement with the complemental ledgeportion 6I on the underlying companion member 42 but is preferablyinclined with respect to the ledge portion BI to insure a. proper sealwith only line contact 91 between them under pressure developed by thetensioning of the underly-` ing member by virtue of the stresses inducedby the pressure of the struts 41 against the girder plate.

For the trim at the belt rail I5 the sheathing member 46'is formed withits upper marginshaped to provide a moulding portion 62 having aretaining flange 63 with a depending lip 64 adapted to engage thecontinuous belt rail strip in position when that member is attached tothe girder wall by means of thefastening means 53 along its lowermargin' through the attaching flanges 5I hereinbefore described, toprevent dis engagement of the lip 64 from the belt rail strip. Thefiangev83 is preferably cored out as at 68 to provide an upper wallportion 69 and a lower wall 18 of lesser length from which the lip 64depends so that upon engagement of the lip 64 with the retaining strip,the upper wall 59 alone will bear against the girderwall to provide aproper seal at that point to. prevent seepage of water behind themoulding.

ri'he members designated 43 are of like configuration, having each anupper margin formed with a flange 98 offset inwardly from the face ofthe member to provide the ledge portion 8i, and a lower margin formedwith a. pocket 48 extended downwardly to provide the attaching flange 5Iand the downwardly extending outer wall portion 9| terminating in theshoulder portion 60. As will be understood, the fiange 98 is enteredunder pres-- sure between the walls of pockets 48 in the overlyingmember until the outer edge of the sloping ledge 6I contacts shoulder 68of an adjacent member, after which the fastening devices 53 are enteredin the openings 52 of the lower flange 5I to hold the member in positionupon the girder wail, after which the flange 98 of an underlying memberis entered in the pocket 48 of the instant the bulb Iportion member,covering the fastening devices 53, and in turn secured at its lowermargin to the wall, and the operation repeated in attachment of theremaining members of the group until the car side wall above and belowthe windows has been covered. y

The moulding trim 45 for sheathing members 44 used interchangeably atboth window header and side sill positions and shown in Fig. 1'1 is ofthe snap-on variety. The members 44 are formed at their lower marginswith outwardly projecting ribs 1| and,12 having bulbous edges 13 and 14,respectively, designed to retain in position'the trim pieces 45, asshown in Figs. and 12.' The pieces 45 are formed at their upper marginswith .flanges cored out as at 16 to provide an upper wall portion 11adapted for sealing contact with the .curved face of the member 44 and alower wall 18 having a depending lip portion 19 for engaging theretaining rib 1|; along their lower margins said trim pieces 45 areformed with locking flanges having shoulders 88 engageable with 14 ofthe rib 12 to hold the retaining lip 19 upon the-flange 1|, the flangeshaving tapered portions 8| adapted to ride over the retaining bulbs 14in the process of assembling, the flanges being sprung outwardly withinthe elastic limit of the section after which the locking flanges arerestored to a normal locking position with their shoulder portions 80embracing the retaining bulb 14 against displacement and with suilcientpressure to avoid chattering of the parts. As in the case of themoulding trim portion 52 of the sheathing member 46. the upper wallportion 11 only of the upper flange 15 of trim moulding 45 will bearagainst the member wall to insure proper water seal at the upper edge ofthe moulding.

If desired, the sheathing arrangement may be extended to cover thealuminum vestibule door 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 13.y For thispurpose, only that portion of the door area below the window line needbe covered with shaped members to accord with those on the car sidebeneath the windows and the remaining surface of the door coveredpreferably by at panel plates 82 of the same material and finish as thatcharacterizing the shaped members and the panel plates I3 covering thewallbetween the windows or the door surface treated to provide suchfinish, so that these areas of the car side will present an appearancein conformity with that afforded by the sheathing members. The shapedmembers on the door 20 may be virtual extensions of the members 46 and43 on the car wall and secured to the door by retaining clamp members 83similar to the clamp members 25 for the body sheathing as shown in Fig.13, while the panels 82 may be secured by screws or bolts 84 asindicated in that figure. That portion of the car side between thevestibule door opening 24 and adjacent end, may be covered by -fheathingmembers disposed to correspond to placement of like sheathing members onthe body of the car above and below the windows with relatively shortsections of the members 42 through 44, and the lower group members 46,43 and 44, secured by the clamp members 25 and 30 shown in Figs. 13 and14. The wall area between such members may be covered byflat panelplates 85 of like material and finish in harmony with the correspondingplates I3 and 82 hereinbefore referred to or the wall surface may betreated to conform to the finish on the extruded sheathing members.

'ing frame members 4.

Upon engagement with the girder wall as described, with strut ribportions 41 inducing tension in the respective sheathing members whenattached to the wall plate I4, the yseveral members function to rigiditythe respective girder plate portions between the framing side posts 86in areas above and belowthe windows and between said posts and thecorner posts 22 and 35, respectively. Such application of the members tothe glrder plate I4 would permit of substantial reduction in thethickness of the girder plate if of aluminium or lighter gauge sheetswhen steel girders are used. If necessary, stiffeners 81, intermediatethe posts above and below the windows, may be secured to the girder onits inner face to further stiffen the wall structure, effectingsubstantial reduction in weight and amount of material required withoutdisturbing the integrity of the structure as a whole.

Stress sheathing members of the type used to cover the body of the carmay be adapted for paneling of the apron framing 4 depending from thecar sides, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11. The structurebetween the trucks 3 is pivotally suspended from the body by hinges 88,as in Fig. l0, and with the sections 2 of the apron fixed to car body onopposite sides of the trucks as shown. To the framing 4 of the` apron,sheathing members having outer surface configuration similar to themoulding members 4| at the side plate may be used at the upper margin ofthe apron as shown at I4| in Figs. 5 and 10; the sections would differin the spacing of holes |52 to register with spacing of the apronsupport- The upper margin is formed with a depending lip portion |51 toengage the protruding upper edge |58 of retaining strip |56 attached tothe hinge leaf |89 by means of the bolts |99 taking also the apronlongitudinals I9| The moulding form-ation along its lower margin may beof a modified design as shown in these figures toy provide elongatedpockets |48 presented downwardly and defined by diverging inner andouter walls |94 and |95, respectively, with the inner wall |94 beingextended downwardly to provide attaching flanges |5| for securing themember to the apron framing longitudinal |9| and the verticals 4 bymeans of bolts or screws |53, as best shown in Fig. 10. As in thepreferred. form shown in Fig. 6, the moulding outer surface portionextends to the lower margin of the member to a shoulder por- -shoulder|50 on the overlying section I4| to provide the closed seam |91 betweenthe members, is effected. The bifurcation |99 on flange |98 is intendedto provide a measure of resiliency to the flange at its edge and permita slight wedging action ofthe flange within the pocket |48 due to theyielding upon contact of the bifurcation branches with respectiveconverging side walls |94 and |95 of the pocket under thrust ofassembling the sections in interlocking relationship of is not deemednecessary.

9 during the process of attaching them to the wall I4. As in theconstruction of the members secured to the girder |4, the sections areformed with tensioning strut portions |41 having bearing flanges |54which, when used for application to the framing members as in theembodiment shown, are provided with holes |55 to receive fasteningdevices |59 extending through said flanges |54 and the apron framingverticals 4. The lower margin of this member |42 is formed with anelongated pocket'portion |49 having a conguration similar to that of theoverlying moulding section with inner and outer side wall portions |94yand |95 converging downwardly with an attaching flange portionextending downwardly from the inner wall for securing the member to theframing, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 21. A-s in the preferredform theouter face of the member extends downwardly to terminate in a downwardlypresented shoulder |60 disposed inwardly and upwardly to permit linecontact with ledge portion |6| on adjoining underlying member |43 toform a tight seam |91 at the meeting faces of said members in the mannerhereinbefore indicated. The underlying sheathing member |43 shown inFig. 11, is similar to member |42 and further description there- 'I 'hesheathing assembly on the apron framing is completed with theapplication of the trim moulding member 200 shown in interlockingrelationship with the overlying member in Fig. 11 and in fragmentarydetail in Fig. 22. The member is formed along its upper margin with'oiset interlocking ange |90 having its free edge bifurcated 'as at |99for wedging engagement with pocket |48 in the overlying member 'ashereinbefore outlined with respect to the interlocking joints betweenother members of the assembly; the lower margin however, differs in formfrom the other members to adapt it for connection to the lower framinglongitudinal 20|. As best shown in Fig. 11, the framing member 20| isformed with a lower flange portion 202 bent inwardly of the plane of thebase plate portion 203 of the longitudinal for a purpose presently to bedescribed. Trim member 200 terminates in a lower flange portion 204extending downwardly and inwardly from the face of the member forconnection with flange 202 of the framing longitudinal 20| by means ofthe securing bolts 205 taking both iianges through the holes 200', asshown in Fig. 11; the flange 204 of the trim section is disposed at anangle with respect to the flange 202 on the framing longitudinal 20|when held by the bolts 205 so that only the edge 201 of the iiange 204will contact the adjacent face of lflange 202 to allowna limited yieldof the section iiange under pressure `of the securing bolt 205 to exertsufficient thrust of the section edgewise as to produce a wedginginterlock between the bifurcated ange |98 of the section and the'adjacent pocket |40 of the'overlying member |43, as will be understood.To obtain the Widest possible outer face portion for the section, thatsection of ange 204 between the face of the section and the fasteningmeans is extended downwardly as at 208 to conceal the fastening meansfrom a side view of the car, and to prevent accumula-l tion of water inthe trough 209 resulting from the bulge thus created, drain holes 2|0may be drilled at intervals throughout the length ofthe section. e

Side aprons constructed as above described with preformed sheathingmembers detachably 10 secured in stressed interlocking relation directlto the apron framing members 4, as shown, are substantially strengthenedagainst distortion by the rigidifying action of the stress inducingstrut portion of the members between the upper and lower trim mouldingsections |4| and 200, de

picted in Figs. 10 and 11 and 21, respectively.

To extend the benefits of the sheathing system to areas beneath the trapdoor Tat the vestibules of the car, the underside of the retractibiesteps l, having a contour shaped to conform to the curvature of the xedapron sections 2 flanking the steps. may be fitted with sheathingmembers corresponding, preferably, in kind and number to those on theapron sections to lend continuity to the sheathing in the treatment ofthe whole car side as shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

It will be noted that the stressing means for the several sheathingmembers, other than trim sections, has been indicated as in the form ofstrut ribs 41 extending inwardly from the body of the sections forpressure bearing against the girder side, but conceivably, the desiredstressing of the members may be obtained by a mere reversal of thecurvature of the body portion between the margins of the members 42a, 43and 44a, so that the body of each of the sections will be curvedinwardly to present a concave surface and so proportioned as to insurebearing contact of such inwardlyv curved portion and the shim 55 on thecontiguous face of the girder |4 to insure proper interlockingrelationship between the ad# joining members to provide tight jointsunder thrust ofthe sections Vwhen attached to the girder side, as willbe obvious.

The construction hereinbefore outlined permits application of thesheathing from the outside without disturbing interior finish andfacilitates removal and replacement of damaged sections. From theforegoing description it is evident that the `members with theirrespective tensioning means are to be so proportioned and the operativeparts s o disposed that upon assembling the 'members with theirrespective flanges entered in the pockets oi adjacent overlying membersthe tensioning means portion of the members will engage the vehicle Wallandthe attaching flanges initially spaced from the wall so as to requirethe application of pressure slightlyto flex the members to cause theattaching flanges to bear against the wall in position to permit themember fastening means to be applied.

What is claimed isz,y

1. In a vehicle wall construction including a girder, a sheathing memberhaving ilange and pocket marginal portions adapted forinterlockingrelationship with respectively adjacent pocket and flange portions onassociate members, member attaching means depending from said pocket,and a shaped portion intermediate said marginal flange and pocketelements having a conguration providing member tensioning meansoperative upon securement of the member by said attaching means, saidshaped portion of the member extending inwardly of the respectivemarginal portions of said member for effecting operative engagement withsaid girder.

2. In a vehicle wall construction including a girder, a sheathing memberhaving flange and pocket marginal portions adapted -for interlockingrelationship with the respectively adjacent pocket and iiange portionson associate members, a member attaching means depending from saidpocket. and a curved portion intermediate said marginal flange andpocket elements. having a 11 conguration providing member contact withsaid girder and operative upon securement of the member by saidattaching means to effect edgewise thrusting engagement with -theassociate members.

3. In vehicle Wall construction including vertical and longitudinallyextending body framing members, girder plates connecting said members,and a plurality of sheathing members extending longitudinally of thevehicle secured to said girder plates disposed in interlocking marginalrelationship, means for attaching the sheathing to the vehicle wall, andmeans on said sheathing intermediate the margins of the respectivemembers for eiecting engagement with said girder plates and operativelto rigidify said girder plates upon securement of the sheathing to saidplates.

4. In a wall sheathing assembly, a sheathing member having ange andpocket marginal portions adapted for itnerlocking jointlrelationshipwith respectively adjacent pocket and flange portions on associatemembers, said pockets having each an outer wall portion terminating atthe lower margin of the member and an integral inner wall portionextending inwardly from the inner face of said outer wall to a pointadjacent the attaching plane of the sheathing, thence downwardly toextend below the pocket to provide an attaching flange, said walls beingspaced apart to form a passageway to receive the contiguous iiange onthe adjacent underlying member, and strut means projecting inwardly fromthe inner face of said member intermediate said iiange and pocketmarginal portions operative upon securenient of the member to the wallat said attaching iiange to exert pressure at the joint betweenrespectively adjacent ange and pocket elements.

5. As an article o f manufacture for use in a vehicle wall assembly, ashaped extruded metal sheathing member having a configuration providingan elongated offset upstanding flange portion along its upper margin, anelongated ange receiving pocket portion along its lower margin, anoffset :resilient attaching iiange portion extending downwardly from theinner side of said pocket, and member stressing means intermediate ofand parallel to said upper and lower margins and below. said uppermarginal flange portion, said iiange and pocket portions being adaptedfor interlocking joint relationship with respectively adjacent membershaving like characteristics.

6. In a sheathing assembly for vehicle walls,

a plurality of shaped prefabricated members having each an elongatedupstanding oiset flange portion adapted for interlocking jointrelationship with overlying associate members along an upper margin,integral bulbous member retaining ribs along a lower margin coextensivewith said member, snap-on trim moulding elements removably engaging saidribs, member attaching means detachably securing said sheathing to thevehicle wall, and member tensioning means intermediate said upper andlower margins operative upon securement of the sheathing by saidattaching means.

"7. In a sheathing assembly for vehicle walls, a sheathing member havingan upper oiset marginal flange portion and a lower marginal elongatedpocket portion for interlocking joint relationship with the respectivelyadjacent pocket and ange portions on the associate sheathing members. anupper ledge portion extending inwardly from the outer face of the memberto the base of said flange, said member outer face portion extendingdownwardly and terminating in a thickened bead portion to form the outerwall of said pocket, and an inner wall portion for said pocket extendinginwardly from said outer Wall at a point above the bead to a planeadjacent the vehicle wall thence downwardly to provide an attachingflange portion depending from the inner side of said pocket, said beadportion of the pocket outer wall having a downwardly presented shouldersloping inwardly and upwardly with respect to the contiguous upper ledgeportion on the adjacent underlying member to provide linel contact atthe junction of said members.

8. In a sheathing assembly for vehicles, a sheathing member having anupstanding bifurs cated upper flange portion and a lower marginalelongated pocket portion for interlocking joint relationship with therespectively adjacent pocket and ange portions on the associatesheathing members, an upper ledge portion extending inwardly from theouter face of the member to the base of said flange, said member outerface portion extending downwardly to form the outer wall for the pocketand terminating in a downwardly presented shoulder inclined inwardly andupwardly with respect to the contiguous upper ledge portion on theadjacent underlying member to provide line contact at the junction of,said members, said pocket having an inner wall portion disposed inconverging relationship with the outer wall and extending downwardlybelow the pocket to provide attaching means with the space between saidWalls so proportioned with respect to the thickness of the contiguousbifurcated flange on the adjacent underlying member as to cause thebranches of the bifurcation to yield upon contact with the respectiveconverging side walls of said pocket to produce a wedging action underthrust of assembling said members for securement to the wall by saidattaching means, and tensioning means on said members.

9. In a vehicle wall construction including a girder, a sheathing memberhaving ange and pocket marginal portions adapted for interlockingrelationship with the respectively adjacent pocket and ange portions onassociate members, a member attaching means depending from said pocket,and an inwardly curved portion intermediate said marginal flange andpocket elements providing member contact with said girder and operativeupon securement of the member by said attaching means to eect edgewisethrusting engagement with the associate members.

FRANK L. MURPHY. JAMES E. CANDLIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED lSTATES PATENTS

